 They were relegated down to the Sicilian Eccellenza in 2001 because of financial difficulties.In 2002 Proto sold the club to Paolo Pinazzo and Gianfranco Vullo.Atletico Catania went on sliding further down, and was again cancelled in 2005, when a group of supporters led by Santino Crisafi founded a new club with the current denomination and registered it to Terza Categoria, the lowest division in Italian football, for the 2005–06 season.